Ne-Yo’s mum was left “crying like a baby” when he told her he’d written his chart-topping song Miss Independent about her. Asked about the rumours his mother had been the inspiration for the song, Ne-Yo confirmed she had been, and said she had an emotional reaction when he told her - and “cried like a baby”. Ne-Yo further explained of the meaning behind the song: “I grew up in a house full of women. “They were changing tires and opening pickle jars and squishing spiders and whatever, taking out the trash.” In the tune, he sings “Ooh there's somethin' about, Kind of woman that can do for herself, I look at her and it makes me proud, There's somethin' about her”.